Farm Manager at Land Steward Farms

Empregara; New York (NY); On-site; USD 75,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

Land Stewards Farms is seeking an experienced Farm Manager to lead day-to-day operations, oversee livestock systems, and coordinate staff to maintain high standards of animal welfare and pasture management.

The role requires hands-on leadership on a diverse, pasture-based farm in New York, with a focus on regenerative grazing, soil health, and economic sustainability.

Qualifications

• At least five years of meaningful farm or livestock-management experience.
• Strong livestock husbandry and animal-health knowledge.
• Experience with pasture-based livestock systems; pigs and sheep preferred.
• Knowledge of rotational grazing, forage production, pasture management, fencing, and livestock water systems.
• Experience operating tractors and agricultural equipment; maintenance knowledge.
• Experience supervising farm employees.
• Ability to plan ahead while adapting to daily farm demands.
• Willingness to perform physical farm work outdoors in all seasons.
• Strong sense of ownership and responsibility for operation efficiency.

Responsibilities

• Direct day-to-day farm operation and supervise farm staff, staying hands-on in fieldwork.
• Oversee livestock management: feeding, breeding, health, recordkeeping.
• Develop grazing plans, rotations, and seasonal livestock movements.
• Manage goat grazing for invasive species control and habitat restoration.
• Maintain animal welfare and livestock performance standards.
• Oversee fencing, water systems, barns, and farm infrastructure.
• Coordinate with veterinarians, suppliers, contractors, and service providers.
• Assist with budgeting, purchasing, inventory, and cost control.
• Monitor performance of farm enterprises to improve productivity and profitability.
• Collaborate with habitat-restoration programs when objectives overlap.
• Maintain organized, safe, clean, and professional operation.

Skills

Livestock management

Animal-health knowledge

Pasture-based systems

Equipment maintenance

Staff supervision

Planning/organization

Physical outdoor work

Tools

Tractors

Job description

Company description

Land Stewards Farms is a working agricultural operation in New York’s Hudson Valley focused on demonstrating how productive farming and responsible land stewardship can work together. Across a diverse landscape of pasture, forest, and restored habitat, the farm is developing livestock and land-management systems centered on soil health, biodiversity, regenerative grazing, and the long-term improvement of the land. Our goal is not simply to practice regenerative agriculture, but to demonstrate that these systems can be operated efficiently, economically, and at a meaningful scale. Land Stewards Farms works closely with Land Stewards Inc., using the property as a living laboratory where agriculture, habitat restoration, conservation, and applied research come together.

Job description

Land Stewards Farms is seeking an experienced, hands-on Farm Manager to take responsibility for the day-to-day operation and management of the farm. This is not primarily a desk or administrative position. The Farm Manager will work alongside the farm team and be actively involved in the daily work required to keep the operation running efficiently and to a high standard.

The farm operates a diverse, pasture-based livestock system that includes pastured pork, sheep, poultry, and goats used as part of our invasive-species management and habitat-restoration program. Livestock production is closely integrated with grazing management, pasture improvement, soil health, and the broader stewardship of the property. The diversity of the operation requires someone who is comfortable managing multiple livestock systems and coordinating seasonal priorities across the farm.

The Farm Manager will oversee all facets of farm operations, including livestock management and animal health, breeding and production schedules, grazing and pasture management, farm grounds and infrastructure, machinery and equipment, and the supervision and organization of farm staff.

A central responsibility of the position is ensuring that the farming enterprises are both environmentally responsible and economically sound. Regenerative agriculture must also be productive and financially sustainable. The Farm Manager will be expected to continually look for ways to improve animal performance, pasture utilization, labor efficiency, equipment use, and the overall economics of the farming operation.

We are looking for someone who takes ownership of the operation, is comfortable making decisions in the field, and leads by working alongside the team. The right person will combine practical farming experience with strong organization, attention to detail, sound judgment, and the ability to manage people and resources effectively.

Key Responsibilities

• Direct the day-to-day operation of the farm and farm staff while remaining actively involved in fieldwork and livestock management.
• Manage pastured pork, sheep, goats, and poultry, including feeding, breeding, lambing and farrowing, animal health, handling, movement, recordkeeping, and general husbandry.
• Develop and execute grazing plans, pasture rotations, pasture renovation, forage management, winter feeding, and seasonal livestock movements.
• Manage the goat grazing program as an integral part of invasive-species control and habitat restoration.
• Maintain high standards of animal welfare and livestock performance.
• Oversee fencing, water systems, barns, shelters, handling facilities, and other farm infrastructure.
• Oversee tractors, implements, vehicles, and other farm machinery, including preventative maintenance, repairs, cleanliness, and proper operation.
• Manage farm grounds and ensure fields, roads, fence lines, barns, work areas, and other agricultural areas are properly maintained.
• Establish daily, weekly, and seasonal priorities, assign responsibilities to staff, and ensure work and projects are completed efficiently and correctly.
• Train, supervise, and work alongside farm employees.
• Maintain appropriate livestock, veterinary, pasture, feed, equipment, maintenance, and production records.
• Coordinate with veterinarians, suppliers, contractors, processors, and other outside service providers.
• Assist with budgeting, purchasing, inventory, and cost control, with particular attention to labor, feed, equipment, and other significant operating expenses.
• Monitor the performance and economics of individual farming enterprises and identify opportunities to improve productivity, efficiency, and profitability.
• Work closely with Land Stewards' habitat-restoration and conservation programs where farming and broader land-management objectives overlap.
• Maintain an organized, safe, clean, and professional farming operation.
• Because this is a livestock operation, the position requires flexibility. Seasonal demands, weather, lambing and farrowing, animal-health issues, and other farm needs will occasionally require work outside a conventional schedule.

Qualifications

• At least five years of meaningful farm or livestock-management experience.
• Strong livestock husbandry and animal-health knowledge.
• Experience with pasture-based livestock systems, with experience managing pigs and sheep strongly preferred.
• Knowledge of rotational grazing, forage production, pasture management, and fencing and livestock water systems.
• Experience operating tractors and agricultural equipment and a practical understanding of equipment maintenance and repair.
• Experience supervising and organizing farm employees.
• Strong mechanical and practical problem-solving abilities.
• Good organizational and recordkeeping skills.
• The ability to plan ahead while also responding effectively to the changing daily demands of a working farm.
• A willingness and ability to perform physical farm work outdoors in all seasons.
• A strong sense of responsibility and ownership for the condition, performance, and efficiency of the operation.

Compensation

this position is: salaried, $75,000 - $100,000